2009-03-31

Tony Stewart comes to Thunder Road

TONY STEWART COMES TO THUNDER ROAD IN ’09 STEWART TO RACE IN VERMONT GOVERNOR’S CUP 150



For Immediate Release - ACT – 032909-12A

Barre, VT – Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart will race in the CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 lap race Thursday, June 25 as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration at Barre’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl.

The 2002 and 2005 Cup winner with 32 major NASCAR victories to his credit is considered the most versatile race driver since Mario Andretti in the 1970s. In 1995 Stewart gained national attention when he swept all three of the United States Auto Club’s major open cockpit divisions, capturing the Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown Series. He was the first driver to ever do so. He was the 1997 Indianapolis Racing League Champion and is remembered as the rookie who sat on the Indianapolis 500 pole and led for 144 laps before his car went away.

The Rushville, Indiana racer, considered the most aggressive driver in American motorsports today told Thunder Road track officials ‘The Road’ has special significance. “Thunder Road has been on my list of short tracks that I just have to race”, he said. “My friend Kenny Schrader tells me the competition is tough. This is a race I’m looking forward to,” said the twice Daytona 400 winner.

Thunder Road promoter and co-owner Tom Curley said, “Of all the people, in any form of racing, the one driver I wanted to have help us celebrate the track’s 50th anniversary is Tony Stewart. I have always thought he represents what stock car racing is really all about”, said Curley. “He definitely will be coming to race and that’s what Thunder Road fans and competitors expect”.

The CARQUEST Governor’s Cup will draw a top field from the American-Canadian Tour. Earlier this year ACT announced that the Governor’s Cup would be designated as a Qualifier for the Saturday, September 19th ACT INVITATIONAL at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. It will be part of the Sprint Cup weekend, which will culminate with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 20th. If Stewart wins the Barre race and elects to compete, New Hampshire Motor Speedway will increase the starting line-up for the INVITATIONAL.

A special commemorative 50th Anniversary Governor’s Cup Tony Stewart discounted ticket will be available beginning with Thunder Road’s Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic double header over the May 23/24 weekend when the American-Canadian Tour will be joined by the True Value Modified Racing Series on Memorial Day weekend.

Ticket prices for the Governor’s Cup will be $17.00 for Adult advance tickets, with race day Adult tickets $20, and Children’s ticket (6-12) $3.00. Pits will open at 2pm, front gate at 3pm, with post time 6pm and the Governor’s Cup scheduled for 8pm.

For additional information, contact the American-Canadian Tour at 802-244-6963 or media@acttour.com.

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